South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade changes route this year
The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston will look different this year, with a new starting point and a carved-out family‑friendly zone added in response to past public safety concerns.
This year, the March 15 parade will follow almost the same route — just backwards. Instead of ending in Andrew Square, it will start there.
Additionally, the Medal of Honor Park on M Street will now be a designated "family-friendly zone."
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, who represents South Boston in his districts, cited past instances of violence from parade revelers as a reason behind the new "family-friendly zone."
In 2024, an a ssault happened by the parade route after its conclusion at Medal of Honor Park. A video of the altercation depicted at least four suspects kicking and punching a victim down a slope leading to a baseball field, which went viral on social media. In another 2024 parade incident, a "highly intoxicated" 26-year-old man armed with a gun was arrested near the Andrew Red Line Stop in South Boston.
Following these incidents, a task force that conducted "monthly preparation meetings" was formed ahead of the 2025 parade by Flynn, state Sen. Nick Collins and other elected officials in South Boston. There were at least 13 people who faced charges in connection with incidents during the 2025 parade, as the officials tried to crack down on the "anything goes" attitude of previous parades .
"This parade is about respecting and in celebrating our veterans and their families, and it's not about drinking and fighting," Flynn said on Tuesday.
He called the 2024 incident "an embarrassment to the South Boston veterans and our military families" and said he's confident the monthly planning meetings will help deliver a "safe and healthy" parade in 2026.
St Patricks Day parade in South Boston on Sunday, March 16, 2025.Sebastian Restrepo
The parade's family-friendly zone will feature events like "Touch a Truck" for children to explore military vehicles, with other programs to make it a "welcoming environment" for children, seniors and military families "still being planned and discussed" as of mid-February, said Flynn.
The decision to start the parade at Andrew Square "was a request from the Andrew Square residents," Flynn said. Historically, he explained, the St. Patrick's Day Parade start location was rotated between Broadway Station and Andrew Square.
During the monthly meetings, Flynn said residents in the Andrew Square area "reminded us" of that history and the neighborhood's "elected officials and the organizers of the parade agreed" with them.
In years past, the parade has begun at Broadway Station and headed up West Broadway, then to East Broadway. The procession then curved through P Street, East 4th Street, K Street, East 5th Street and G Street. After, processions went to the left of South Boston High School onto Thomas Park, Telegraph Street, then Dorchester Street and concluded at Andrew Square.
This year's change to start at Andrew Square will adjust the route slightly — after passing Thomas Park, the procession will take G Street to East 6th Street. Then, it will proceed back as normal onto K Street.
The 11:30 a.m. start time will remain the same.
Parade organizers at the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC), the Boston Police Department and Boston Mayor's Office did not respond to MassLive for comment Tuesday.
More boston
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
